Political prisoner Andrei Haidukou visited by family

Volha Haidukova, the mother of political prisoner Andrei Haidukou, visited her son during a long-term meeting at colony No. 19 in Mahiliou, Radio Racyja reports.

The 24-year-old civil society activist, a former employee of the Navapolatsk-based "Naftan" oil refinery, was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment in a penal colony for alleged attempt to establish contacts with a foreign intelligence service. However, the spy case of Andrei Haidukou, as well as the proof of his guilt is doubted by human rights defenders. He is recognized a political prisoner.

According to Volha Haidukova, the meeting lasted for three days. Andrei’s sister Maryia also was there.

“An ordinary guy from an ordinary family, and now this savagery, of course for him it is a huge stress and for us, too. We had a meeting, we talked, he is doing well, he has not changed. He said that everything was fine, asked not to worry. Of course, he protects us, it is not all he could tell us, just like before, "I'm all right, I am alive and well, take care”. I saw he was OK. Andrei is still our Andrei, so I'm very pleased. It's clear that he was not supposed to be in prison,” says Mrs. Haidukova.

According to her, as early as on August 8, Andrei could have been released on parole. However, due to the fact that at that time he had only arrived in the colony, he wasn’t checked. Yet his mother hopes that Andrei has not lost his chances to be released before the end of the sentence.

Andrei Haidukou was detained on November 8, 2012 in Vitsebsk. He has been in custody since then.